Method for securing together photographic material and a tab

ABSTRACT

A photographic material tabbing apparatus and method, by which a tab and the emulsion-bearing surface of photographic material are positioned in partially overlapping relation so as to interface portions respectively of the tab and the emulsion-bearing surface. The emulsion-bearing surface portion, interfaced with the tab portion, is softened in a manner causing the photographic emulsion to become adhesive. Thus, upon pressing together the interfaced portions of the softened emulsion-bearing surface and the tab, the adhesive emulsion will effect a bond between the tab and the photographic material.

United States Patent 1191 Epperson et al.

1111 3,802,983 1451 'Apr.9, 1974 [5 METHOD FOR SECURING TOGETHER 2,808,871 10/1957 Brown 156/556 PHOTQGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND A TAB 2,335,033 11/1943 Tompkins .156/547 X 3,516,890 6/1970 Gallistel et al 156/530 X [75] Inventors: David C. Epperson, Hilton; Willis L.

' Stockdale Rochester both of Primary ExaminerWilliam A. Powell [73] Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company,

Rochester, NY. [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1972 A photographic material tabbing apparatus and method, by which a tab and the emulsion-bearing sur- [211 App! 228937 face of photographic material are positioned in partially overlapping relation so as to interface portions [52] US. Cl 156/157, 156/159, [56/320, respectively of the tab and the emulsion-bearing sur- 156/325, 156/499, 156/502, 156/578 face. The emulsion-bearing surface; portion, interfaced [51] Int. Cl B65h 19/00 i h h tab p r n. i f ened in a manner causing [58] Field of Search 156/157, 159, 320, 325, the ph g phic m l ion to ec m adhe ive. Thus, 156/502, 544, 552, 578,499 upon pressing together the interfaced portions of the softened emulsion-bearing surface and the tab, the ad- [56] R ferenc Cit d hesive emulsion will effect a bond between the tab and UNITED STATES PATENTS the photographic material. I 3,340,130 9/1967 Dunn et a1. 156/552 8 Claims, -11 Drawing Figures 2 3 3 /r S K W J 121 t k :1 j 13 X Y 9 8 MTENTEDAPR 9 i974 sum 2 or 5 t mmo N E ATENTEUAFR 9 I874 SHEET 3 BF 5 mm m mm m m Rmm PATENTED PR 9 i974 3.8021983 SHEET N 0F '5 FIG. 6

METHOD FOR SECURING TOGETHER PHOTOGRAPHIC MATERIAL AND A TAB A CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Reference is made to commonly assigned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 24,742 entitled FILM IDENTIFICATION AND HANDLING TAB and filed in the names of Richard K. Sprenkle, Willis L. Stockdale and Leonard I-I. Wunrow on Apr. 1, .1970, now abandoned. Reference is further made to commonly assigned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 229,068 entitled FILM STRIP TABBING APPARA- TUS and filed in the names of Oliver W. Gnage and Michael A. Petranto on Feb. 24, 1972. I

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally rel-ates to a method for securing together photographic material and a tab, wherein emulsion in the photographic material is used as an adhesive for adhering the tab to the photographic material, More particularly,'the present invention relates to a film tabbing method wherein emulsion in a photographic film strip is (1) wetted and/or heated to cause the emulsion to become adhesive and (2) then used to adhere the film strip to a film tabbing strip.

2. Description of the Prior Art Photofinishers processing amateur color print film and making paper prints therefrom, commonly transmit processed film negatives to a customer in the form of short negative film strips which each contain three or four image-bearing frames. Should the customer desire additional prints of particular negative frames, a print reorder is returned along with such negative frames to the photofinisher. As disclosed in commonly assigned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 24,742 (more specifically referenced hereinbefore), the print reorder may take the form of a tab which is secured to the negative film strip. In a preferred embodiment, the tab includes several print reorder information areas respectively corresponding to, and in alignment with, the different image-bearing frames contained on the negative film strip. These print reorder information areas are provided with information relating to the number and size of prints desired for the individual negative frames. Moreover, since the tab'in the preferred embodimentis secured along a longitudinal edge of the negative film strip, the tab serves as a convenient means for readily handling the negative film strip without touching the film surface.

Various apparatus and methods have been previously devised for securing a film information and handling sive material to eitherthe tab or the negative film strip (preparatory to adhering the tab to the negative film strip). A furtherdisadvantage is the additional expense in the photofinishing operation resulting from the use of a separate adhesive material.

In accordance with the present invention, there has been devised apparatus and a method for securing together the tab and the negative film strip, wherein photographic emulsion inthe negative film strip is used as an adhesive for adhering the tab to the negative film- 'strip. It will be appreciated that such an apparatus'and method do not require the use of any separate adhesive material, such as tape, for adhering the tab to the negative film strip and thus have certain obvious advantages over film tabbing apparatus and methods requiring the use of a separate adhesive material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for securing together photographic material and a tab, wherein emulsion in the photographic material is used as an adhesive for adhering the tab to the photographic material.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for securing together photographic material and a tab, wherein emulsion in the photographic material is softened in a manner causing the emulsion to be- .face portions respectively of the tab and the emulsionbearing surface. The emulsion-bearing surface portion, interfaced with the tab portion, is softened in a manner causing the photographic emulsion to become adhesive. Alternatively, the emulsion can be softened and caused to become adhesive prior to interfacing with the tab. Such softening of the photographic emulsion can be achieved, for example, by the application of liquid and/or heat to the emulsion-bearing surface. Upon pressing together'the interfaced portions of the softened emulsion-bearing surface and the tab, the adhesive'emulsion willeffect a bond between the tab and the photographic material.

In a preferred structural embodiment of the present invention, a film tabbing apparatus is-adapted to draw sections of a photographic film strip and a film tabbing strip 'off respective strip supply rolls, position the film and tabbing strip sections in partially overlapping relation so as to interface portions of the tabbing strip section and the emulsion-bearing surface of the film strip section, secure the film-and tabbing strip sections together at the interfaced strip portions, and then sever the film and tabbing strip sections from remaining film and tabbing strip lengths wound on the respective strip supply rolls. The film and tabbing strip sections are secured together by wetting a tabbing strip portion which is (or will be) interfaced with a portion of the film strip and then heating and pressing together the interfaced strip portions. The combined application of moisture and heat .to the film emulsion, softens and causes such emulsion to become adhesive. I

In an alternate structural embodiment, the film and tabbing strip-sections are secured together by applying steam to the interfaced strip portions.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned and other features and objects of the present invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of such invention taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the film tabbing apparatus which, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is adapted to secure together respective sections of a photographic film strip and a film tabbing strip and then sever such secured strip sections from remaining lengths of the film strip and the tabbing strip;

FIG. 2 is a .front elevation view of the film tabbing apparatus, showing the manner in which further sections of the film and tabbing strips are withdrawn from re- 'spective strip supply rolls; I

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the film tabbing apparatus; I

FIGS. 4 and 5 are top plan views of film and tabbing strip sections and a film and tabbing strip advance mechanism of the film tabbing apparatus, respectively showing the film and tabbing'strip sections in position for securement together and for severence from remaining lengths of the film and tabbing strips;

FIG. 6 is a section view of the film and tabbing strip sections and the film and tabbing strip advance mechanism as viewed along the line 66 in FIG. 4;-

.FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevation views of a scissor assembly for severing secured film and tabbing strip sections from remaining lengths of the film and tabbing strips, respectively showing the scissor assembly in idle and cutting positions;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of film and tabbing strip sections after severence from remaining lengths of the film DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a strip supply reel 1 on which is supported a roll of negative film strip 2 containing a longitudinally extending series of image-bearing frames (.several of which are indicated by the reference number 3). Another stripsupply reel 4 supports a roll of filmtabbing strip 5 which is constructed of liquid permeable material, preferably paper. As disclosed in commonly assigned copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 24,742 (more specifically referenced hereinbefore), the tabbing strip 5 in a preferred embodiment includes a longitudinally extending series of print reorder information areas (several of which are indicated by the reference number 6). Each of the information areas 6 can be adapted to relate to an individual one of the negative frames '3. More specifically, the information areas 6 are each provided with several print reorder information boxes (not shown) which can be selectively checked by a customer to indicate to a photofinisher the number and size'of prints desired for a particular negative frame. In practice, the customer receives from the photot'misher equal length sections of the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 3 which have been secured together along respective longitudinal edge portions 7 and 8 as shown in FIG. 9. When thus secured, the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 3 are disposed in substantially coplanar relation and the different negative frames 3 are respectively aligned with the different information areas 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the negative film strip 2 further includes allongitudinally extending series of spaced perforations (several of which are indicated by the reference number 9). The film perforations 9 are respectively disposed on the film strip 2 at a plurality of opaque film areas (several of which are indicated by the reference number 10). The opaque film areas 10,

rations 9, the tab perforations l0 and the respective perforation spacing will become apparent hereinafter on considering the manner in which the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 5 are aligned preparatory to securing the film and tabbing strips together.

According to a preferred structural embodiment of the present invention, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 a film tabbing apparatus 12 for securing together respective sections of the negative film strip 2 and the film tabbing strip 5 and for thereafter severing such secured strip sections from remaining lengths of the film strip and the tabbing strip. The preferred structural embodiment is best understood by considering the film tabbing apparatus 12in light of the operational steps followed in operating the overall device. Thus, the different members of the. film tabbing apparatus 12 will be described in the order in which they'ar'e encountered during atypical sequence of operation.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the film tabbing apparatus 12 includes a box-like base 13 on which is rotatably supported two reel spindles 14 and 15. After the reel 1 with a roll of the negative film strip 2 has been placed on a spindle 14, a leading section of the'film strip is threaded successively over guide rollers 16, 17 and 18 and thence into a guide track 19. In the guide track 19,-

the film strip 2 is engaged by a film registration pin 20 and by three spaced film advance pins 21, 22 and 23 (see FIGS. 4 and 6 The pins 20-23 engage the film strip 2 upon extending'into respective ones of the film perforations 9. Once a leading section of the film strip 2 is engaged by the pins 20-23, the reel 4 with a roll of the film tabbing strip 5 is placed on a spindle 15.,Then,

a leading section of the tabbing strip 5 is threaded suc-' cessively over guide rollers 24, 25 andv 26 and thence into the guide track 19. whereupon, the tabbing strip 5 is engaged by a tab registration pin 27 which extends into one of the tab perforations 1 1 (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the longitudinal edge portion 8 of the tabbing strip 5 overlaps the longitudinal edge portion 7 of the film strip 2, along the respectively engaged strip sections in the guide track 19, so as to partially interface the tabbing strip section and an emulsion-bearing surface 28 of the film strip section. The significance of interfacing respective'portions of the tabbing strip 5 and the emulsion-bearing film surface 28 will become apparent hereinafter on considering the manner in which the tabbing strip and the film strip are secured together. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 4, the image-bearing frames 3 on the engaged film strip section are respectively aligned with the information areas 6 on the engaged tabbing strip section.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, tension between the engaged section of the film tabbing strip 5 and the remaining length of such tabbing strip is maintained by a tab tensioning arm 29 (on which the guide roller 25 is rotatably supported) and by a -spindle braking band 30. The tensioning arm 29 is fixed to a pivot rod 31 which, in turn, is rotatably supported by the box-like base 13. The braking band 30 extends partially about a spindle hub member 32, with the opposite band ends being attached to an anchor block 33 on the base 13 and-to a hook member 34 of a spindle braking arm 35. The braking arm 35 extends substantially parallel to thetensioning arm 29 and is fixed to the pivot rod 31 so as to pivot concurrently with the tensioning arm upon rotation of the pivot rod. A helical tension spring 36 is disposed to urge the braking arm 35 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, to tighten the braking band 30 about the spindle hub 32 and thereby prevent rotation of the spindle 15 and the tabbing strip supply reel 4. The spring 36 similarly urges the tensioning arm tion will be wetted by the wick 39. As described hereinbefore, when the film and tabbing strip sections are so engaged, the tab edge portion 8 and the emulsionbearing surface 28 of the film edge portion 7 will be disposed in interfacing relation along the respectively engaged strip sections. Accordingly, the emulsion-bearing film surface 28 which is interfaced with the wetted tab portion 8 will be moistened by such tab edge portion.

Previous to the foregoing, a switch 40 is moved from a normally opened position to a closed position as shown in FIG. 1, so as to complete an appropriate electrical circuit (not shown) for heating a heating iron 41 to an operating temperature. A signal lamp 42, located in the electrical circuit, is adapted to light when the heating iron 41 reaches the operating temperature. The operating temperature of the heating iron 41, as will be described hereinafter, varies in accordance with the kind of photographic film involved. Generally, the operating temperature must be of a sufficient magnitude so that when heat from the heating iron 41 is applied to the film and tabbing strip interface, the combination of moisture from the wetted tab portion 8 and such applied heat will soften the emulsion-bearing film surface 28 and cause thefilm emulsion to become adhesive.

It will be appreciated that the terms photographic emulsion or film emulsion, in specifically referring to the emulsion-bearing film surface 28, comprises a 29 to apply a strip tensioning force at a segment of the tabbing strip 5 which extends about the guide roller 25.

Referring again to FIG. 2, tension between the engaged section of the negative film strip 2 and the remaining length of such film strip is maintained by a film tensioning arm 37 (on which the guide roller 17 is rotatably mounted) and by a spindle braking band 38. Since the members of the film tabbing apparatus 12 which cooperate with the film tensioning arm 37 and the braking band 38 to maintain film strip tension are substantially identical in function and structure to those members of the film tabbing apparatus which cooperate with the tab tensioning arm 29 and the braking band 30 to maintain tabbing strip tension, a description of the first-mentioned members (indicated by the reference numbers 31, 32", 33, 34, 35' and 36) is'considered unnecessary in view of the previous description of the tab tensioning members 31-36. It will be appreciated, however, that the helical tension spring 36' is disposed to urge the film tensioning arm 37 and the braking arm 35' in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 2, in contrast to the spring 36 which urges the tab tensioning arm 29 and the braking arm 35 in a counterclockwise direction.

Considering now the manner in which respective sections of the negative film strip 2 and the film tabbing strip 5 are secured together, there is shown in FIG. 1 a water application wick 39 which projects from the box-like base 13 to wet the tab edge portion 8 as the tabbing strip is moved successively over the guide rol lers 25 and 26. Thus, if respective sections of the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 5 are drawn off the reels 1 and 4 and advanced into engagement with the pins 20-23 and 27 at the guide track 19 (as shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6), the edge portion 8 of such tabbing strip secsuspension of sensitive silver salts in a gelatin medium forming a coating on the negative film strip 2. Generally, however, the photographic emulsion should be of the kind which when wetted and/or heated sufficiently will soften and become adhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a hand lever 43 is fixed at one end to a block 44 which, in turn, is located between, and pivotally coupled to, spaced linkage bars 45 and 46. A bottom plate 47 of the box-like base 13 pivotally supports the linkage bars 45 and 46 (see FIG. 3). The heating iron 41 is fixed, along with a heating iron shield 48, to one end of' a resiliently flexible support arm 49. The other end of the heating-iron support arm 49 is fixed to the base 13. A cam 50, fixed to the arm 49, is pivotally coupled to the hand lever block 44. Accordingly, upon pressing down on the hand lever 43, as viewed in FIG. 3, the heating iron support arm 49 will be depressed by the cam 50; and the heating iron 41 will be moved into abutment against the wetted tab edge portion 8 in the guide track 19. Since such wetted tab edge portion 8 is interfaced with the emulsionbearing film surface 28, along the film edge portion 7, moisture and heat are applied to the film emulsion. Such combination of moisture and heat serve to soften the film emulsion, causing the film emulsion to act as an adhesive at the film and tabbing strip interface. Pressure applied to the film and tabbing strip interface, upon being sandwiched between the guide track 19 and the heating iron 41, forces the softened adhesive emulsion into the paper fibers of the tab edge portion 8.

Thereafter, heat from the heating iron 41 acts to vaporize moisture at the film and tabbing strip interfaceso as to dry the film emulsion and effect a film and tabbing strip bond. It will be appreciated that, although the heating iron 41 is further used in the film tabbing apparatus 12 to dry the moistened adhesive emulsion, other means such as an air stream directed at the film and tabbing strip interface can be used to effect such drying. Moreover, although the water application wick 39 is shown at a location preceding the guide roller 26 in order to wet the tab edge portion 8 prior to interfacing with the film edge portion 7, the wick can be placed at another location (between the guide roller 26 and the heating iron 41) in order to wet the tab edge portion when interfaced with the film edge portion.

- It will also beappreciated that the length and width of the film and tabbing strip bond are substantially defined by the length and width of the heating iron area which is applied to the film and tabbing strip interface. In the present example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the length of the heating iron 41 has been selected in order to secure together a section of-the film strip 2 which comprises four of the negative frames 3 and a section of the tabbing strip which comprises four of the information areas 6.

Referring now to FIG. 10, there is shown a steamheating iron 51 which can be used as an alternative to the heating iron 41. Steam, furnished from a suitable source (not shown), may be passed out of the heating cause photographic emulsion to become adhesive var-' ies-according to the kind of film involved. Generally,

photographic emulsion (including a gelatin medium) can be softened, causing such emulsion to become adhesive, by any one of the following procedures: (1) wetting and heating the photographic emulsion; (2) heating the photographic emulsion in situations where the ambient relative humidity provides adequate moisture so that, upon heating, the photographic emulsion will flow or soften rather than immediately dry; and (3) wetting the photographic emulsion. For example, the emulsion-bearing surface of Kodacolor II film, when exposed to 60 80 F and 20 percent RI-I 65 percent RH, can be softened so as to cause the film emulsion to becomeadhesive upon moistening and heating the emulsion-bearing surface .to 250 1 25 F. In the film tabbing apparatus 12 described hereinbefore, an appropriate thermostat control (not shown) can be used to restrict the operating temperature of the heating iron 41 to a range of 250 i 25 F. As another example, the emulsion-bearing surface of Kodacolor-X film, when exposed to 70 F and 45"percent RI-I', can be softened so as to cause the film emulsion to become adhesive upon heating the emulsion-bearing surface to 160 1 20 F. As a further example, the emulsion-bearing surface of either Kodacolor-X or Kodacolor Il film can be softened soas to cause the film emulsion to become adhesive upon sufficiently wetting the-emulsion-bearing surface. It will be tinderstod, generally that the greater the amount of moisture added to a photographic emulsion, the less the degree of heat required to soften such emulsion.

In FIGS. 1 and 4-6, there is shown'a film advance carriage 53 from which the film engaging pins 21-23 project. The carriage 53 is movable back and forth along a channel 54in the guide track 19. A carriage advance knob 55, fixed to. the carriage 53 by an interconnecting pin 56, facilitates such carriage movement to the right as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5. As further viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, the carriage 53 is urged to the left 8 by a helical spring tension spring 57. The range of travel of the carriage 53, along the channel 54, is restricted by a limit slot 58 through which the intercon- FIGS. 4 and 6). Whereas, in the right-most position, the

carriage 53 partiallyextends out of the channel 54 (see FIG. 5).

After respective sections of the negative film strip 2 and the film tabbing strip 5 have been secured together in the manner previously described, such secured strip sections are moved out of the guide track 19 by pushing the film advance carriage 53 from the left-most position shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to the right-most position shown in FIG. 5. When the carriage 53 with the secured strip sections is first advanced from the left-most position, the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 5 will be disengaged from the film and tab registration pins 20 and 27 (which are fixed to the guide track 19). However, when the carriage S3 with the secured strip sections reaches the right-most position (see FIG.- 5), the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 5 will again be engaged by the film and tab registration pins 20 and 27. As viewed in FIG. 2, upon advancing the carriage 53 with the secured strip sections fromthe left-most position to the right-most position, a'segment of the film strip 2 which extends about the guide rollers 16-18 will be pulled toward the guide track 19, thereby pivoting the film tensioning arm 37 in a counterclockwise direction generally indicated'by an arrow 61. Moreover, a segment of the tabbing strip 5 which extends about the guide rollers 2426 will simultaneously be pulled toward the guide track 19, thereby pivoting the tab tensioning arm 29 in a clockwise direction generally'indicated by an arrow 62. As further shown in FIG. 2, the spindle braking arms 35'. and 35 will be pivoted with the film and tab tensioning arms 37 and 29 in such counterclockwise and clockwise directions. Accordingly, the spindle braking bands 38 and 30 will slacken-about thespindle hubs 32 and 32 so as to permit the spindles 14'and l5 62, the film and tab tensioning arms willdraw further lengths of the film strip 2 and the tabbing strip 5 off the respective strip supply reels 1 and 4 and the spindle braking bands 38, 30 will begin to tighten about the spindle hubs 32', 32. Upon pivoting of the film and tab tensioning arms 37, 29 and the spindle braking arms 35', 35 to normal or original positions, the spindles 14,

15 and the reels 1, 4 can no longer freely rotate since the braking bands 38, 30 are again firmly tightened about the spindle hubs 32, 32. It will be realized'that, since a section of the film strip 2 comprising four of the negative frames 3 and a section of the tabbing strip 5 comprising four of the information areas 6 have been moved out of the guide track 19 upon advancing the carriage 53 from the left-most position tothe rightmost position, identical length sections of the film and tabbing strips will have been drawn off the respective I strip supply reels 1 and 4 by the film and tab tensioning arms 37 and 29.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, there is shown a lever blade 63 which is pivotally connected to a slide blade 64 by a coupling pin 65. A cam pin 66 and a stop pin 67, both of which project from the box-like base 13, extend through slots 68 and 69 in the slide blade 64 so as to support such blade for movement in left and right directions as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8. Upon pivoting the lever blade 64 in a conterclockwise direction about the coupling pin 66, the lever and slide blades will si-- multaneously be moved to the left, as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8, owing to the interaction of the cam pin 66 and a camming edge 70 of the lever blade. A stop pin 71, fixed to the guide track 19, limits such counterclockwise pivotal movement of the lever blade 63 (see FIG. 8). Moreover, the stop pin 67 and the slot 69 cooperate to limit movement of the lever and slide blades to the left. Upon releasing the lever blade 63, a helical tension spring 72, interconnecting the lever blade and the base 13 serves to return the lever and slide blades to a normal or original position as shown in FIG. 7.

Once the respectively secured sections of the negative film strip 2 and the film tabbing strip have been moved out of the guide track 19 so as to draw further lengths of the film and tabbing strips off the reels 1 and 4 (see FIGS. 2 and 5), the film member of the secured strip sections is disengaged from the carriage pins -2123 upon releasing the carriage 53 (which is returned to the normal left-most position by the spring 57). Thereafter, the secured film and tabbing strip sec tions can be severed from trailing sections of the film and tabbing strips 2 and 5. At this time, in the guide track 19, the trailing section of the film strip 2 is engaged by the film registration pin 20 and the carriage pins 21-23, and the trailing section of the tabbing strip 5 is engaged by the tab registration pin 27. To sever the secured film and tabbing strip sections from the trailing film and tabbing strip sections, along a cutting line 73 schematically illustrated in FIG. 5, the lever blade 63 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction about the coupling pin 65,- as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Movement of the lever blade 63 alongside the slide blade 64 effects the necessary strip cutting action and the secured film and tabbing strip sections drop into a collection bin 74.

If either one of the trailing film and tabbing strip sections is not engaged in the guide track 19 by an appropriate one of the film and tab registration pins 20 and 27, then upon severence of the trailing film and tabbing strip sections from the secured film and tabbing strip sections, the non-engaged one of the trailing strip sections will be slightly pulled to the left as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 4 by an appropriate one of the strip tensioning arms 37 and 29. whereupon, the non-engaged strip section will be moved into engagement with an appropriate one of the strip registration pins 20 and 27. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 11, if the tab member of the trailing film and tabbing strip sections is not engaged by the tab registration pin 27 then upon severingthe trailing film and tabbing strip sections from the secured film and tabbing strip sections, such non-engaged tab member will be free to move along the guide track 6 19. Thus, the non-engaged tab member will be slightly pulled to the left, onto the tab registration pin 27, by the tab tensioning arm 29. Generally, the foregoing situation does not arise. However, such situation may occur in instances where the paper tabbing strip 5 has swelled because of exposure to a relatively high ambient humidity, so that the respective spacing between the perforations 11 has slightly increased.

It will be appreciated that although the film tabbing apparatus 12 has been described in use with the negative film strip 2, such apparatus can be modified to accommodate other photographic material such as photographic paper having an emulsion coating.

The present invention has been described in detail with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention.

We claim: l. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which can be softened in a manner causing the emulsion to become adhesive, said method comprising:

softening at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface of such photographic material to cause the emulsion to become adhesive; and

pressing together a softened emulsion-bearing surface portion and such a tab.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes:

heating at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the photowhich when wetted will cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes:

wetting at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive. 4. A method as recited inclaim 1, wherem the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and'wherein said softening step includes:

wetting and heating at least a portion of the emulsion bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.

5. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein the photographic material, has an emulsion-bearing surfacewhich can be softened in a manner causing the emulsion to become adhesive, said method comprising: v

positioning such a tab and the emulsion-bearing suroverlapping relation so as to interface portions respectively of the tab and the emulsion-bearing surface;

softening an emulsion-bearing surface portion which sion-bearing surface and the tab, when the emulsion is adhesive.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the photographic material is a film strip having a longitudinally extending series of imagebearing frames and the tab is a film tabbing strip having a longitudinally extending graphic material has an emulsion-bearing surface face of such photographic material in partiallyseries of information areas which can be respectively aligned with the image-bearing frames, and wherein said positioning step includes:

arranging such a film strip and such a film tabbing strip so that the image bearing frames and the information areas are respectively aligned.

A method as rs tedin laim, '51 whe the Rhotog raphic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes:

applying steam to an emulsion-bearing surface portion which is interfaced with a tab portion to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.

8. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein a photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein the tab is constructed of sion-bearing surface and the tab. 

1. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein the photographic material has an emulsionbearing surface which can be softened in a manner causing the emulsion to become adhesive, said method comprising: softening at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface of such photographic material to cause the emulsion to become adhesive; and pressing together a softened emulsion-bearing surface portion and such a tab.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes: heating at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.
 3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted will cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes: wetting at least a portion of the emulsion-bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.
 4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes: wetting and heating at least a portion of the emulsion bearing surface to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.
 5. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein the photographic material an emulsion-bearing surface which can be softened in a manner causing the emulsion to become adhesive, said method comprising: positioning such a tab and the emulsion-bearing surface of such photographic material in partially overlapping relation so as to interface portions respectively of the tab and the emulsion-bearing surface; softening an emulsion-bearing surface portion which is interfaced with a tab portion to cause the emulsion to become adhesive; and pressing together interfaced portions of the emulsion-bearing surface and the tab, when the emulsion is adhesive.
 6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the photographic material is a film strip having a longitudinally extending series of image-bearing frames and the tab is a film tabbing strip having a longitudinally extending series of information areas which can be respectively aligned with the image-bearing Frames, and wherein said positioning step includes: arranging such a film strip and such a film tabbing strip so that the image bearing frames and the information areas are respectively aligned.
 7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein said softening step includes: applying steam to an emulsion-bearing surface portion which is interfaced with a tab portion to cause the emulsion to become adhesive.
 8. A method of securing together photographic material and a tab therefor, wherein a photographic material has an emulsion-bearing surface which when wetted and heated will soften and cause the emulsion to become adhesive, and wherein the tab is constructed of liquid permeable material, said method comprising: wetting such a tab; positioning a wetted tab and the emulsion-bearing surface of such photographic material in partially overlapping relation so as to interface portions respectively of the wetted tab and the emulsion-bearing surface; heating an emulsion-bearing surface portion which is interfaced with a tab portion; and pressing together interfaced portions of the emulsion-bearing surface and the tab. 